Salahuddin: referendum may be needed for some amendments

The government is seeking to advance the constitutional amendment process through discussions with the opposition and other stakeholders, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Tuesday, urging opposition parties to join the special parliamentary committee for open discussions on the July National Charter and other key issues.

Speaking at a press briefing after the fourth meeting of the Special Committee on Constitutional Amendment at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, Salahuddin said differences expressed by the BNP or other parties through notes of dissent would be considered by the committee. He added that opposition parties had been invited to nominate members to the committee, though no nominees had yet been submitted, with the July National Charter remaining the principal basis of the committee's work alongside dissenting views, election manifesto commitments and recommendations from political parties, constitutional experts, lawyers, journalists and other stakeholders.

Read More: PM Tarique makes first courtesy call on President Fakhrul

Salahuddin also said a referendum could be required under Article 142 of the Constitution should amendments involve provisions for which one is constitutionally prescribed, explaining that such a referendum would be held after Parliament passed the amendment bill but before presidential assent. The committee, meanwhile, is continuing discussions on issues including the structure of a caretaker government and a proposal to limit a prime minister's tenure to 10 years, and hopes to complete its recommendations by December so that the amendment bill can be placed before Parliament during its first session in January.